A deranged homeless man went on a stabbing spree in a local Target that ended with customers taking the man down until police could arrive. The horror started when 16-year-old Allison Meadows was standing in line with her family at checkout when the knife-wielding lunatic grabbed her and reportedly began stabbing her. The man, 41-year-old Raymond Walls, was arrested. And Allison underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. But it could have been a lot worse if it weren't for brave customers nearby.

Advertisement

Walls had reportedly gotten into a fight with several other men when he ran into the store. He ran toward the checkout lanes, grabbed Allison, and began threatening that he would kill her if anyone got close to him.

Then he began stabbing her in the back. One witness said:

That little girl, he just kept stabbing her. I just couldn't stand there and watch that.

The witness, who said the suspect had a "long, long knife," used a baseball bat to disarm him. Four or five other men joined the fray and began beating the suspect. Said another witness:

He was getting his tail whooped with a bat, with fists. He was getting tore up and I think he deserved it.

Two men were cut in the altercation, one on his hands and one on his face, and another man was taken to the hospital with chest pains, but all of them survived. So did Allison. She was actually able to tweet last night and thanked everyone for their prayers.

Now let's just imagine this guy had an assault rifle, shall we? A baseball bat wouldn't have done much good.

The man who helped save Allison's life amazingly doesn't want any publicity for his heroic actions. He spoke to a local East Liberty TV station but wouldn't be identified. Thank goodness he and other strangers were willing to put their lives on the line for this young girl.